But this isn’t the same Broncos team, now, is it? They’ve made a lot of changes. I do think we will win and I don’t think their secondary will keep us from scoring, but I think it’s silly to compare our past results with the current team and their current personnel.

Not to spark a heated discussion, since the Colts are a good bit better than the Chargers, but Philip Rivers’ numbers against the Broncos were pretty good too. And those were all in the last 3 years, I don’t know how relevant Peyton’s performance against the 2003 Broncos is, since we have 0 returning defensive players from 2003.

Anyway, look forward to a great game in December.

completely different team, different players, different coaches, different attitude, and their 6-0 so they have different swagger. This might be one of the best games we play all year.

Look, folks, as an Indy fan, I’d want the Colts to beat anyone in a matchup, including Denver. But I’m not about to say it’s in the bag. Remember, back before Manning was drafted, quite a few teams had Indy’s number, too. And up until ‘06, it seemed as though New England had Indy’s playoff number.

Things change. If Denver had not dramatically reshaped itself, I’d be more willing to base future predictions on what Indy has done up there in the past. But that’s a potentially erroneous mindset to take now; this year’s team has little in common with Broncos teams from the past.

Yes, I want Indianapolis to win if these two meet. But I’m not about to make predictions based on previous games, not with a revamped Broncos team involved.

that the pats were looking to trade him to the Ravens, but just cut him after not playing him for 3 games. I saw him in that bills-game-that-shall-not-be-mentioned and he was dropping passes left and right. Doesn’t seem worth a trade to me…

I think that makes a HUGE difference in what is likely to be the “team first” attitude that McDaniels brings. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit saying something positive about an ex-New Englander.

What I do think is that Orton is a much better QB for the scheme McDaniels has implemented there – run first, screens, lots of high percentage plays, very little downfield action – although, of course, has he only implemented that sort of scheme because of the QB Orton is?

I think the Broncos and Bears can be pretty happy with the deal – Cutler’s looking better every week and he’s starting to get some nice chemistry with his receivers. If the Bears had a running game, they’d be pretty dangerous…

The one person I definitely underestimated was Josh McDaniels. I was completely wrong about him.

sorry couldnt resist.

that’s exactly what they WERENT doing last year. They were losing those close games, EVERY TIME, a lot of times because of cutler. Cutler is gone, Orton is in, and he doesn’t throw those red zone picks. That’s what makes them for real, they are a much smarter football team. I just wish they would have kept Shanahan.

That’s even more of a cupcake division this year than last and they probably only need to win three more games to clinch.

Whether or not they’ll do anything in the AFC overall is another question, but they’ll probably get home field advantage (along with us) unless New England roll the rest of their schedule. Nobody else in the AFC is consistent enough to challenge for a bye.

it was his first time EVER doing it. I vote fluke, but he’s always had the potential to do it.

# Darth Jay says: October 20, 2009 11:47 AM

This will be a non-story in a few hours. The Patriots are going to resign both Banta-Cain and Alexander to two year contracts that gives them both an extra year, but lowers their cap #’s for this year.

This is a salary cap move.